Protecting hood ifor locomotive windows



2 SHEETS'SHEET I P. C: SDUTHWORTH- PROTECTING Hogan FOR LgCo onvE WI DOWS.

FILED D5C,8,1920,

- Jan. 30, 1923 bro 76 S S Q1 Jan. 30, 1923. 1,443,852

. P, C. SOUTHWORTH. PROTECTING H000 FOR LOCOMOTIVE W1 NDOWS.

F LED DEC. 8. 1920 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I Sum/who;

Patented Jan. 30, 1923.

warren stares PRESS G. SOUTHWOBTH, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

PROTECTING HOOD FOB LOCOMOTIVE WINDOWS.

Application filed December 8, 1920. Serial No. 429,246.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it lznown that Pnnss C. SoU'rHwon'ri-r, a

citizen of the United States, residing at C0 lumbns, in the county of Franklin and State of Uhio, has invented certain new and use- }ful Improvements in Protecting l-loods for Locomotive Windows, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved attachment constructed to be employed in con nection with the window structures of locomotive cabs and has for its primary object to provide an attachment of this nature which may be effectively utilized for the purpose of enabling an engineer to obtain a clear and unobstructed view of preceding track conditions without being subjected to such physical dis-comforts as are incident to direct exposure to the elements.

It is well known, particularly in view of the heavy modern locomotive designs, that an engineer, in order to obtain a clear vision, is obliged to obtain his view by leaning out of the cab window, and this exposed position is assumed substantially throughout the entire period of time the locomotive is in operation. As a result of this condition an engineer, particularly in inclement weather, will be exposed to the conditions which are adverse to his physical comfort and frequently accidents are caused by the neglect of the engineer to assume such (.XPQEQCl positions and by his laclr of proper vision.

The present invention consists in the pro irisioi'i of a substantial yet light weight hood wherein are provided features of construe tion which enable the hood to be substantially et ren'iovably connected with the window ame of a locomotive cab, said hood including a plurality of flexible walls which project outwardly and laterally of the cab :so to receive the head of the engineer when the latter leans outwardly of the cab, the construction of the hood being such as to thoroughly protect tie engineer from the elements and by means of transparent pancls. appropriately locateth to enable the engineer to obtain a clear and unrestricted vision of both forward and lateral. and rearward surroundings without any difficulty.

A further object of the invention resides in providing the hood with an improved adjustal'ile metallic frame structure. the latter including a substantially rectangular portion capable of being vertically adjusted so as to fit snugly within the window grooves of the cab, the vertical adjustment of the frame enabling the latter to be forced tightly into said grooves so that accidental displacement of the hood will be effectively prevented when the hood is properly erected, the said rectangular portion of the frame structure being further provided with foldable outwardly and laterally projecting portions which serve to fashion the final shape of the hood and to maintain the flexible walls thereof in proper positions, whereby said hood will be rigidly erected and capable of successfully withstanding wind pressures and other extraneous forces.

A still further objectof the invention resides in forming the frame structure of the hood so that the same may be readily folded to assume a collapsed position when the hood is not in use, thus enabling the latter to be compactly stored and to occupy but a minimum of space and to enable the same to be conveniently carried; in forming the hood so that the same will. be within the standard limits of clearance allowed for laterally projecting elements from the side of a locomotive or engine, and in providing the walls of the hood with devices whereby said walls may be tautly stretched irrespective of the various adjustments of the frame structure.

Other objects of the' invention reside in the provision of a hood of the above nature to be simple in design and therefore capable of being economically manufactured and purchased and wherein the parts are of such construction as to enable the hood to be readily set up for use in. conjunction with the cab of an engine, to rigidly maintain its setup or operative position under conditions of active operation. and to be likewise capable of being readily and easily removed from its operative position so that the same may be folded in a compact manner so that the same will be conveniently portable and capable of being readily stored for subsequent use.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and. to the accompanying drawiug, in which similar characters of reference denote like and corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof.

In said drawing:

Figure l is a PGI'SPQfblYQ view disclosing the application of the improved protecting hood comprising the present invention,

Figure 2 is a rtical s ctional view taken.

generally through the hood along theplane disclosed by the line 9-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an elevation of the hood looking toward the interior thereof,

Figure 4- is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line "i -1 of lfigi'ire 3.

Figure 5 a detail perspective view of the frame structure.

Figure 6 is a detail view partly in section,

Figure 7 is a detail view partly in section.

Figure 8 is a similar view of the connection between the outer corners of the pivoted bars carried by the frame,

Figure 9 isadetail view of the conne' tion between one of the vertical rein forcing rods and the outer pivoted frame bar, and

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view disclosing on an enlarged scale the connection between the fielx'ible bottom wall of the attachment and associated frame menibers.

Referring more particularlyto the drawing and to the specific form of the invention disclosed thereby, the numeral 1 designates the cab construction of a locomotive. s usual, this cab construction is formed to comprise a window frame 2, in which is mounted a sliding window 3, the latter traveling, as usual. in grooves at. and being capable of closing or opening the window opening provided in the cab. As previously stated. it is a common practice of engineers in the operation of a locomotive to lean outwardly of the window frame in order to obtain a clear view of track tOlldltions; and inasmuch as this position entails considerable physical discomfort and hardship on the part of the engineer, the present invention provides an improved protecting which must be taken care of in order to per- "ma of the use of the hood. in the 1i rst place it is essential that the hood should be ot'such design as to be within the standard limits ofclearance set for locomotive equipment when' the vehicle is running over ordinary track conditions, secondly to enable the hood, when not in use, to be collapsed. whereby when the locomotive is placed in a round house, and the lateral clearance therei by diminished, the hood will not be in the way of adjacent vehicles, and finally to be of light weight construction so as to be capable, when desired, of being readily removed from connection with the cab construction and to be folded and collapsed so" that the sa m'e inay'be'readily'carried' from place to fifi pla ce'" and "conveniently stored.

To this end. my improved hood construction consists essentially of a light weight metallic frame structure, designated generally by the numeral 6, which .framc structure is adapted to have placed and stretched thcreabout a flexible covering of can *as or some other similar stout fabric, whereby the hood will be provided with flexible exterior walls, forming a head receiving compartment 7 which is disposed laterally and outwardly of the frame 2, the said compartment being bounded on all sides by flexible walls, with the exception of the inner side of the hood, the latter opening directly into the interior of the cab construction. The frame structure includes a horizontally extending upper part 8, which has its outer ends provided with threaded openings capable of receiving threaded Studs 9 provided upon the upper ends of a pair of spaced vertically disposed bar members 10. These members extend downwardly and have their lower end portions received Within sockets 11 provided in the upper ends of a pair of complemental lower vertical bar members 12, the latter forming, in fact continuations of the members 10. It will be observed that the upper ends of the members 12 are provided with set screws or their equivalents 13, which are adapted to frictionally engage the lower ends of the members 10 so as to hold the latter in securely adjusted positions with respect to the lower bar members. In other words, by the provision of the sockets 11 and the set screws 13. the effective height of the members 10 and 12 may be suitably varied so as to accommodate the frame structure to window openings of varying height. The lower ends of the bars 12 are provided with studs 1.4, which are arranged to he received within openings provided in the outer ends of a lower horizontally extending bar 15. .\s shown in Figure 5, it will be apparent that by this construction the bars 8, 10, 12 and 15 will constitute a substantially rectangular frame portion, which latter may be adjusted vertically by the construction described. Through the instrumentality of this construction the rectangular frame portion of the structure 6 is capable of being received within the grooves 4. of the window construction 5. Thus, the bars 8 and lb will be received within the upper and lower grooves respec tively of the frame .2, and by means of the vertically adjustable construction. the said bars 8 and 15 may be .l'orced snugly into said. grooves, as shown in Figure 2, thus securely connecting the frame structure 6 as a whole in combination with the window frame. Similarly, the bar members it) and 12 to the right of the frame structure as viewed from the cab are capable of being inserted in the vertical groove provided in the window frame, and the complemental collapsing to be readily carried out.

bar members 10 and 12' to the left of the frame are adapted to be engaged by the window 2-3 itseli whereby by forcing the window rearwardly a tight frictional grip will be maintained to keep the bar members 10 and ii in engagement with the vertical groove oi the window frame and in contact with the vertical edge of the window 3. This construction enables the frame to be readily set up for active operation and to withstand such pressures asthose to which the hood will be subjected when in use. Similarly, convenience is to be had in removing the hood from the window frame.

Pivo' ly connected as at 16 with the upper one, of the bar members 12 is: a pairot laterally and outwardly ezitending horizontally disposed bars 17, which have their outer ends provided with reduced studs 18, which studs are adapted to be received within sockets 19 provided in the outer curved encs oi an upper red 20, said rod and t-e bars 17 constituting a U shaped brace, however, by the provision oi the studs 18 and the sockets 19 it will be manifest that the brace thus provided may be separated into its component parts to itacilitate collapsing of the i rame as a whole and to enable such Also, the lowerends of the bar members 12 are provided with lower bars 21., similar in construction and in. arrangement to the bars 17, the said bars 21 being equipped with studs, corresponding tothe studs 18 and therefore not shown, which are adapted to be received within the socketed ends of a lower rod 22, the parts 21 and 22 constituting a lower U shaped brace, which is separable in the same manner as is the upper brace. Spacing sleeves 23 are provided between. the inner ends of the bars 21 and the lower ends of with the members 12. In order to maintain theupper and lower braces in theirproperly spaced positions and to generally strengthen the trans construction and to render the same more rigid the lower rod 22 isprovided with pivotally mounted These rods ordinarily extend in vertical diroot-ion: and have their upper ends providei'l with studs 55.1 which are arranged to be received within openings 9t) provided in the upper rod 520. l lonever by swinging the upper brace it is obvious that the roinlorring rods 534; may be readily removed From engagement therewith, and said rods may then assume collapsed positions permitting oi l'rec swinging movement on the part oi. the upper and lower braces.

ln combination with this frame structure, the hood is formed to include a canvasor other fabric covering 27 which. adapted to be tautly stretchech when the hood is in reinforcing rods 24:.

active use, around the various members of the inner vertical edges oi? said "front and rear walls may be firmly and substantially connected with the side members of the f ame. The said. straps being provided with snap buttons 3 which enable the trout and rear walls to be readily disconnected from engagement with the frame whenever desired. The bottom wall is provided along its inner longitudinally disposed edge with a seam 35, which is adapted to receive the lower bar 15 of the irame the ends oi? said seam being provided with eyelets 36, which enable the studs 1% to enter the openings provided in the ends of the bar Also the outer longitudinal edge of the lower or bottom wall 32 is provided with av second longitudinally extending seaniili', in which is positioned the outer rod 22 of the lower U shaped brace. By this constri'mtion it will be manifest that the bottom wall will be held and supported between the bar 1 3 and the rod The said bottom wall. is capable of being tautly stretched by providing the same with straps and bucl-tles 38, which when properly adjusted will. eliminate any looseness in the bottom walh and also will maintain the brace bars 21 and the rod 22 in secured relationship. In fact, before the lower brace can be separated it will be necessary that the straps and buckle construction 38 be operated to permit the separation.

At the juncture provided between the upper longitudinal edge off the side wall, 30 and the corresponding lower edge of the top wall 31 there is provided a longitudinally extending scam 89, which is adapted to receive ti o horizontally extending rod 20 oil the upper brace. 'lheu by means of the reinforcing rods Ell the said side wall 30 may be tautly stretched toassume its 'uiopcr operating [)USllilGll and to eliminate looscncss therein. the rods F24; serving); to constitute the outer corners oi the frame. F y this (iflllfill-lllClVlOll it w 1 also be manifest that the trout and rear "air-ills 28 and 29 will also be stretched and tuutly held in proper operating positions. As before stated the frame structure is ertically adjustable. and to allow tor this adjustment the sloping top wall 31 is provided with an extra length of material 4C0, which is arranged to overlap the upper part 8 of the frame and to extend inwardly and beneath the wall 31. The inner edge of the surplus material 40 is provided with a plurality of straps 41, which are capable o't' being passed through buckles 42 connected with the seam 39 by straps 42' extending inwardly therefrom. Manifestly, by tightening the straps 41 by drawing the same through the buckles 42 the up er part of the hood may be tautly stretc ed and maintained in such condltion. Furthermore, by the provision of the straps 41 the connection 18 and 19 between the bars 17 and 20 is maintained. In this instance the walls 28, 29 and 30 are equipped with transparent panels 43, suitably supported in connection with frames 44, the arrangement of the panels being such as to permit the engineer to obtain a clear view of front, side and rear surroundings.

From the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides an attachment which may be readily employed in connection with the window constructions of locomotives for the purpose of enabling an engineer to maintain a clear view of surrounding track conditions and at the same time to be protected from the efi'ects of adverse weather. It will be manifest that when the device is not in use, the lower straps and straps 41 may be readily loosened so as to permit the upper and lower braces to be readily disconnected, this enables said braces to assume folded positions and to thereby permit of the collapse of the hood into a relatively small bundle; this can be further carried out by loosening the set screws 13, which will allow the bar members 10 and 12 to assume their shortest effective length. The canvas hood may then be neatly and closely wrapped around the folded frame structure to produce a package of small proportions capable of being'readily transported and carried. Since the device is capable of being readily collapsed it will also be apparent that similar convenience may be had in effecting its erection and that by reason of the adjustment provided in the rectangular portion of the frame structure a firm and secure connection will exist between the hood and the window frame of the cab. Itis obvious that the parts of the hood by bein formed from the material stated will pro use a construction which will beat once light in weight and possesses the necessary strength and rigidity, when in use, to withstand the various pressures to which the hood will be subject.

In view of the foregoing it is believed that the operation, use, construction and advantages of the hood will be readily perceived by those versed in the art, and therefore a-more extended explanation hasbeen accordingly omitted.

What is claimed is:

1. A protecting hood for vehicle windows, comprising a substantially rectangular frame, a pair of spaced upper and lower braces extending outwardly and laterally from said frame, a flexible covering connected with said frame and including flexible walls having side openings formed therein, and means connected with said walls for drawing the same tightly around said frame.

2. A protecting hood for vehicle windows comprising a substantially rectangular frame capable of occupying grooves provided in a window frame, outwardly extending braces connected with said frame, and a flexible covering capable of being tautly stretched around said frame and braces, said covering defining a compartment normally disposed in open communi cation with the interior of the vehicle.

3. A protecting hood for locomotive windows, com rising a substantially rectangular metallic rame capable of being received within the sash grooves of a window frame, pivoted braces extending outwardly and laterally in relatively spaced relationship from said frame, a fabric covering disposed to substantially surround said frame and braces and to provide a compartment in open communication with the window frame, straps carried by said covering for tautly maintaining'the walls thereof in connection with said frame, and transparent anels provided in certain of the walls 0 said covering.

4. In a protecting attachment for the windows of locomotive cabs, comprising a frame of substantially rectangular formation, said frame being arranged to be received within the sash grooves of the window frame, means whereby said framemay be adjusted to vary the effective height thereof, a pair of spaced pivoted braces carried by said frame and extending outwardly and laterally therefrom. a fabric covering arranged tosurrou-nd said frame and braces to provide a substantially encased compartment, means formed with said covering for tautly stretching the walls of the latter around said frame and braces, and trans- Iparent panels provided in certain of the walls of saidcovering.

5. A protecting-hood for the windows of locomotive cabs comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be secured to said cab within to the window opening area, braces extending outwardly and laterally from said frame, vertical members uniting the outer portions of said braces, a flexible covering arranged to surround said frame and braces and to cover a portion of said window opening, means for securing said covering in connection with said-frame and braces, and transparentpanei provided in certain of the "walls of saidcovering.

6. A protective hood for the windows of locomotive cabs comprising a frame structure including a frame comprising relatively vertically adjustable U shaped members, outwardly and laterally projecting members extending horizontally from one of said U shaped members, a flexible covering having the lower wall thereof secured to the lower of said U shaped members and the outer portions thereof arranged to surround said outwardly and laterally extending members, strap connected with the upper edge of said covering for drawing the latter around the upper of said U shaped memhere, the front and back walls of said covering having the vertical edges thereof connected with the vertical portions of said U- shaped members, and transparent panels provided in said front and back walls.

7 A protective hood for the windows of locomotive cabs, comprising a vertically adjustable rectangular frame capable of being secured in connection with the window frames of said cabs, U haped braces extending outwardly and laterally from said frame, a flexible covering having the marginal edges thereof connected with said frame, the body of said covering being arranged to pass around said braces, strap devices provided in conjunction with aid covering for maintaining the same in secured relationship with said frame and braces, and transparent panels provided in certain of the walls of said covering.

8. In a hood of the class described, a frame, U shaped brace extending horizontally and outwardly from said frame, reinforcing rods between the outer portions of said braces, a flexible covering having the marginal edges thereof secured to said frames, seams formed in said covering for the reception of the outer portion of said braces, and straps and buckle devices provided in conjunction with said seams for stretching the walls of said hood.

9. In a collapsible hood for locomotive windows, a vertically djustable rectangular frame capable of being secured in conjunction with the window opening of a cab, foldable braces extending horizontally and laterally in vertically spaced relationship from said frame. said braces including separable units, a covering of fabric arranged to surround said frame and braces, the margins of said covering being connected with said frame, and strap devices carried interiorly of said hood and operative to maintain the separable units of aid braces in assembled relationship.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PRESS C. SQUTHWORTH. 

